Marian Gaborik Signs for the New York Rangers

John Quirk

I loved this signing when I heard about it, then sort of recanted when I heard how much they were paying him and read a halfway convincing article in Newsday, but now I am back. The Rangers play at Madison Square Garden, the grandest stage in all of sports, and the most exciting players to done the blue shirt since Messier and Richter hung em up were past their prime superstars in the persons of Gretzky and Jagr. Marian Gaborik is not either one of these players in their prime by any stretch of the imagination but he is exciting. He is a guy who creates on his own and scores highlight reel goals. He has scored 30 goals 5 of the last 8 seasons and this man has not been healthy since 2002, when he just so happened to score 30 goals and notch 36 assists, all while leading the three-year-old Minnesota Wild to its first Stanley Cup playoffs. That year he was also an all-star, an event where he won the fastest skater competition. He is one of less than 50 guys to ever score 5 goals in an NHL game, and the only person to do it in the 21st century. Paired with the right winger this guy has a chance to be one of the best players in the league, and one of the biggest draws in the city. I like what Glen Sather has done here, let’s hope for the Rangers (and hockey’s) sake it does work out. At least unlike the unproven Sanchez, we know Gaborik can play, can he stay healthy and play well in New York remains to be seen.